Trump Campaign Bus Stops in Franklin

It was hard to miss the giant Donald Trump-Mike Pence bus sitting behind the Republican Party headquarters Friday afternoon.

Those driving by would occasionally honk their horns, while others parked and hopped out to take pictures. Campaign buses – like the one that stopped here – have been traveling to swing states all around the country full of volunteers. When the bus pulls out of Williamson County, it will head back to Florida. The bus had previously been in Robertson and Rutherford Counties, with thousands taking photos beside it.

To show solidarity for the presidential nominee, Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) stood in front of the bus with a small crowd. He said the next presidential race wasn’t just about the next four to eight years, but an entire generation.

“Donald Trump will make sure America is great again,” he said. “The Democratic nominee never mentioned the Constitution one single time when talking about the Supreme Court. We don’t want unelected lawyers in black robes to make our laws.”

Standing to the side was John Stancil from Springfield. He furnished the bus free of charge to the campaign from Anchor Transportation in Nashville. The company has 85 motor coaches. Stancil said his support for Trump derived from his personal beliefs on business, the Second Amendment and abortion rights.

“I am strongly for the Second Amendment,” he said. “I am 150 percent against abortion. I believe every Christian who knows Christ as their personal savior should be against abortion. I don’t believe any woman has the right to have a baby, and at nine months decide I don’t want the baby and just pull the baby apart and pitch it into the garbage can. That hurts my heart to even think about that. And another thing too, he’s a businessman. I am a businessman. I think he can help put me at a higher level financially. I want to see other people get in business and not be taxed to death.”

Williamson County Republican Party chairman Julie Hannah also said the bus’ presence was a positive way to erase any doubt of how the party felt about the nominee. She said some in Williamson County and others around the state are volunteering to try and solidify more of a red vote.

“People keep raising the question,” she said. “We are without a doubt behind our nominee.”